gMaps hits v1.10 and gets real good

Speaking of Google apps, gMaps (free) and gMaps Pro ($1.99) are fairly popular unofficial Google Maps applications that have been around for awhile. Version 1.10 just hit the Marketplace and as with each version, it keeps getting better and better--so good in fact, we're ready to give it a big thumbs up.

The latest version gets some theme support (uses your accent color), zoom buttons, geo-location info for any object and a few other tidying up features.

We like it for the alternate view to Bing maps, the traffic info (including "follow me" for tracking) and the layers for viewing (street, hybrid, physical, water-overlay, satellite). The ability to "screen shot" the map to send to others is pretty smart and if you're in the city like us, the public transport layer is quite handy for finding that subway.

So if you're looking for one of the best non-official Google Maps out there, here you go. Free version is here in the Marketplace and the $1.99 ad-free version is here.

Does Google+ for Windows Phone actually exist? [Photo]

We're going to put this under rumor for now, though certainly plausible.

Kevin Marshall for Clarity Consulting, a group very familiar with Windows Phone (hint: the Facebook app), has posted an image via his Twitter account showing what looks like a Google+ app for Windows Phone. The hashtag is #wp7, the phone is an HTC Trophy and it clearly says Google+.

Of course with no other info, it's hard to tell if it's real or not--after all, it's not hard to put an image on the phone and call it an app. Still, Marshall doesn't seem the type to fib on the internet either. So...interesting.

Fujitsu IS12T features earthquake early warning system

Turns out a lot of phones in Japan have an earthquake early warning system built in, giving notice to the user via an alert before an earthquake which may just give the user enough time to find that door frame for safety.

Luckily, the Toshiba-Fujitsu IS12T is no different as it features the app/system built into the phone. Tezawaly from NanaPho lets us know that it works too:

"On August 1st, 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit Shizuoka Japan. The warning arrived on IS12T a few seconds before the earthquake hit. It has two button "save" and "close". You can save it as a SMS clicking on the save button."

Now that's a smartphone if you ask us and we're glad those in Japan can have this potential life-saving tool built into that Windows Phone, exclusively for KDDI.

Official WPCentral App hits v1.3, available now

Hey look at that! Our beta wrapped up a few days ago and v1.3 is now live in the Marketplace for your pleasure. Seeing as we had about 50 beta testers this time around, we're confident that just about every little bug and user-issues were addressed.

Of course we still have loads of work to do, including comment support which is the sole focus in v1.4. And we've already started toying with advanced Mango features, like playing the podcast in the background and quick resume for multitasking.

Full change-log is after the break, in the meantime grab the app here in the Marketplace and like always, hit us with your feedback! Don't forget, give a big thanks to our developer & podcast co-host, Jay Bennett (@jaytbennett; site) and our own Richard Edmonds for the updated graphics.

And just like before, the app comes in two varieties: Free (ad-supported, limited features) or paid ($0.99). To get the free version, just download and use the Trial--that's the free version and doesn't expire.

Another week, another podcast. This week Dan and Jay actually recorded live, for what we intend to be a weekly feature. You can join us Mondays at 2PM EST for our live broadcast and chat--either listen here, through UStream or via the UStream client for Windows Phone (Channel = WPCentral Pocast LIVE!).

This week we pound through all the Mango news, software updates and that Toshiba device, plus answer some of your questions along the way. Show notes after the break. Listen in now!

Brandon Foy lands at Microsoft

Here's a feel good story involving Microsoft, Windows Phones, and an energetic, creative developer. Remember Brandon Foy? The young man who created the Windows Phone ad concept that took center stage at Mix 2011.

Microsoft challenged everyone that if Brandon's video hit 200K views they would turn it into a national ad. Unfortunately, the video fell short of the 200K mark but it appears Microsoft wasn't done with Brandon.

According to a tweet by Brandon (you can follow him @brandonfoy), today was his first day as a UX Designer for Microsoft. We are sure this is a start to a successful career and would like to extend our congratulations out to Brandon!

Microsoft makes changes to geolocation service

Microsoft has recently made changes to its geographic location service, which we reported on not so long ago as having a lack of safeguards and a privacy flaw. Elie Bursztein, a researcher at Stanford University, created a web page that allowed visitors to search the database at Live.com for locations using device MAC addresses.

Reid Kuhn, a Partner Group Program Manager on the Windows Phone engineering team, made the announcement today over at Technet and stated that while it was not possible to track a roaming mobile phone or laptop using its MAC address, they aware of the fine line Microsoft was treading on with regards to privacy issues surrounding geolocation.

"Microsoft's privacy and security team has been in contact with Elie and we will continue the ongoing dialog with experts in the privacy field to improve our service offerings. We thank Elie and his team for working with us on this issue."

Microsoft's privacy and security team has been in contact with Elie and we will continue the ongoing dialog with experts in the privacy field to improve our service offerings. We thank Elie and his team for working with us on this issue.

Quask - Short Take

We present to you Quask from Skyboost. Quask is a question-answer app for your Windows Phone that responds to questions that are entered via the keyboard or submitted by voice. Quask will then try to answer your question audibly.

Voice Memos Lite - App Spotlight

Dhivehisoft is offering Voice Memos Lite over at the Windows Phone Marketplace. Voice Memos Lite offers simple design to record memos and takes advantage of the Metro Design to manage your recordings.

The Main pages offer a single button record page, a page to display your recent memos, and your settings menu. From the Recent Memo Page you can select to "view all" and you will be sent to category pages for your voice memos. Settings include setting up either a Audioboo or Soundcloud account (for sharing files), setting up PC Sync, and establishing default file names (as well as how files are handled).

To record a memo, just tap on the large "record" button on the main page of Voice Memos Lite. You have the option to edit the details of the file or you can edit things later from the file view screen. You can edit the voice file's title, category (four choices; notes, meeting, shopping, and other), description, as well as adding a picture.

It would be nice to see customizable categories and a search feature with the productivity app. The developer does mention that there are plans to release a paid version of Voice Memos Lite that will have more features. Maybe these two will be part of the mix.

Regardless, Voice Memos Lite comes across as a simple, yet effective voice memo app for your Windows Phone. Voice Memos Lite is a free, ad-free app and you can download it here (opens Zune) at the Marketplace.

First Mango device from Nokia to "officially" appear on August 17th?

This is very exciting news (if you're like me where you simply can't wait to have a potential uni-body Windows Phone handset) surrounding Gamescon, which is to be held at Cologne, Germany this month. It seems Nokia has some exciting news with actions and surprises that will make the 17th of August an evening to remember. Notice the new post-Mango Windows Phone logo?

Could this well be the unveiling of the earlier prototype "Sea Ray" handset? Whatever doubt you may still have floating within that mind of yours, take a gander at the raffle prizes in the bottom-left box. Three winners will receive a 250GB Xbox 360 console (with Kinect) and a Nokia Windows Phone (as soon as available - can't be long surely?).

Will we be seeing a possible pre-release announcement of the final product within three weeks time? Let's hope so. We'll of course keep you all posted with any updates regarding this event.

From the WPCentral forums...

Mango Beta2 is out to developers and we are making ring tones to share and listening to streaming music on our Skydrive that was added to the office hub. We now have a lot more to talk about when it come to Mango and we are learning more each day.

Big D5 - Now that we have a way lets post em up I'll start. Attached is a couple of my favorite Kid Rock ring tones. Just unzip then drag and drop in to Zune and fallow the instructions.

TheWeeBear - I just made a Music folder on my SkyDrive and popped a couple of MP3's in it and accessed it via the Office hub and guess what ? They Stream perfectly via 3G in Zune Wow!

It never used to work. Is it perhaps a Mango thing? I have unlimited data so don't panic. Just thought i'd share. :)

There is even more to learn about Windows Phone. Thought you knew everything? Ever wanted to know how to move the cursor around?

hardrock1a - And I thought that I would mention it here since I had not heard or seen this mentioned before. When entering text, ever cursed it because you didn't have arrow keys? Couldn't get the cursor placed where you needed it?

Do you have a favorite weather app? Take the poll and weigh in on the discussion.

TheWeeBear - I've tried them all and still like the 'Weather Channel' app the best it loads fast and is nice and clear and displaying what you want. I also like it's Facebook integration.

I like weather bug and Accuweather too although it's a bit 'Sticky' and slow at the moment. Nice though that we have such a variety to chose from. :) I voted for my beloved Weather Channel in the Poll. :)

Windows Phone "Tango" dances its way onto the scene?

We're still a little ways away from Mango's official release, and already it's successor, Tango, may be skulking around in the shadows. Using an app called Dude, Where's My Update?, which tracks what versions of WP7 people are running on what devices, Japanese site Nanapho, spotted a previously unknown version 7.10.8200. As it turns out, this might be Tango, the expected interim release between "Mango" and "Apollo" aka Windows Phone 8.

Though Tango has not been formally detailed by Microsoft, Nanapho says that it will include better Bing, improved Bluetooth, Internet Explorer 10 and Skype integration. Most interestingly, there also seems to be some Nokia-specific programming. We know that the next major version of Windows Phone will be called "Apollo," and that news about Tango came from Compal, an ODM who will be manufacturing handsets for Nokia.

Pong7 gets a makeover, reminds us we're old [Video]

Yeah, we know you all want Halo on your phones, but some of us like to relive our childhood and play old Atari 2600 games on our phone. (See also 'Decimation X2')

Luckily, we're not alone as JEFBCreating has made Pong7 for our enjoyment. The game has been out for awhile, but it just hit v1.2 with a nice makeover and new features including single player. That's in addition to the already free status (ad supported) and the ability for two-players, which is kind of cool if you have a table and some free time.

The retro graphics are great, the game play smooth and it even has a nice tile. So we have to give it a thumbs up if all you want is some simple Pong action. Pick it up here in the Marketplace.

Therefore it should come as no surprise that Microsoft is now endorsing this as the official new look to Windows Phone going forward. It's obviously non-3D, no chrome and visually represents the "tile" system in a minimalist way. To that end, we really like it. NanaPho have done a real good job of recapitulating the continued sightings of the new logo, going back a few months.

Although we do wonder, will it change upon every new re-release or is this just a late re-adjustment? Anyways, sound off in comments on your thoughts. And should Microsoft get a logo/mascot ala Android? (Personally, we're against it).

Student developer contest still running, win Mango devices

We previously covered this contest just over a month ago, and the response the Windows Phone team have had from student developers is really impressive. 20 students have already received a special "Mango" device to aid them in unleashing their creations.

There are still 30 "Mango" handsets to be won by students for great prototypes. Here's how you can enter: